# NTSB ATL81FA051: Piper PA-30, N7443Y, Autaugaville, AL, March 1, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 1, 1981
- Place: Autaugaville, AL · AUTAUGAVILLE, AL
- Location: 32.4321° N, 86.6601° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Autaugaville, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4321&lon=-86.6601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126552
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FA051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FA051

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1046   81/3/1    AUTAUGAVILLE,AL     PIPER PA-30         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 66, 5000
        TIME - 1356                    N7443Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 2500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OZARK,AL                    BESSEMER,AL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1900
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       63
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          290                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT INDICATED INST-QUALIFIED,ACCEPTED IFR CLRNC.UNABLE TO NAVIGATE/MNTN ASSIGNED HDGS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7443Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7443Y-1984-01-07), registration cancelled 1984-01-07, S/N 30-506 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810301006299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810301006299A), Mar 1, 1981: Piper PA30, Autaugaville, AL, Destroyed. Pilot continued flight into weather and aircraft crashed during radar vectors for instrument approach.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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